Transforming Lives: Nutmeg Scholar Sarah Schatz ’20

What is it like to witness a dream come true? We wanted to capture that moment—the second a life changes. The moment a promising high school senior finds out she earned a full scholarship to UConn.

This is the story of Sarah Schatz, recipient of the prestigious Nutmeg Scholarship and a member of the class of 2020. UConn awards 15 Nutmeg Scholarships each year to outstanding students from Connecticut who demonstrate the academic prowess, commitment to public service, and character to become a leader in his or her chosen field.

“The Nutmeg Scholarship is so significant. UConn is such a great school,” says Schatz, a National Merit Commended Scholar and Governor’s Scholar from Columbia, Conn. “Knowing that I got the scholarship and that I’m staying in Connecticut was a huge relief for my family. We are all so happy and grateful to UConn.”

More and more top students are choosing UConn. The class of 2020 includes the largest number of valedictorians and salutatorians, 181, in UConn’s history. Nine out of 10 of them hail from towns across Connecticut.

Schatz has already earned an impressive array of academic achievements. After finishing in the top 10 her junior year on the finance exam at a DECA (an international program that develops leadership skills) international competition, Schatz placed first in the accounting applications competition at a DECA state-level conference during her junior and senior years. She served as an officer in the National Honor Society and treasurer of her high school’s chapter of the mathematics honor society Mu Alpha Theta.

In addition to diving into coursework—her major is accounting—Schatz looks forward to taking advantage of all the opportunities at her fingertips at UConn.

“The scholarship will help me be able to focus on my schoolwork. Instead of worrying about working, I can concentrate on academics and look at the extracurricular opportunities,” says Schatz. “UConn offers so much. I want to look into student business organizations like the accounting groups and other activities like intramural sports—I play field hockey and tennis.”

Active in community service, Schatz also was impressed with UConn’s community-oriented programs. Schatz was president of her school district’s Leos Club (junior program of the Lions Club) and fundraised for Camp Rising Sun, a summer camp in Colebrook, Conn. for children with cancer. She wants to check out UConn’s Alternative Breaks, which coordinate service-learning trips that prepare students for lifelong social action. Trips coming up this year focus on such important issues as homelessness, HIV/AIDS advocacy, human trafficking, and environmental conservation.

“Most of all I’m interested in meeting new people from all different places and backgrounds and with different interests,” Schatz adds. “I’m so excited to be going to UConn, and I’m so appreciative of the Nutmeg Scholarship, which has proven that hard work does pay off.”

Welcome to UConn Nation, Sarah Schatz ’20! Learn more about the Transform Lives initiative to raise $150 million for scholarships to support more students like Schatz.